Keeping your clothes for longer can help to significantly reduce the emissions that occur during the life cycle of a piece of clothing. Extending the active life of a piece of clothing by just nine months can significantly reduce its environmental impact, while doubling the useful life of a piece of clothing from one to two years can reduce emissions by 24 percent over the year.
The willingness of the owner to wear the same item repeatedly; technical characteristics such as robust fabrics, dyes, and colors; consumer ability to repair or change clothes; and how owners look after their clothes are all factors that influence how long a piece is of clothing is retained. Taking proper care of an article of clothing can extend its lifespan dramatically, and you could always take it to a nearby laundry service to play safe. But it’s not always available, which is why we’re sharing some of our favorite techniques for keeping your clothes looking fantastic for as long as possible!
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Wash Less
Before you wash your clothes, think twice. Dry-washing, which uses toxic chemicals that flatten the natural fiber follicles in some fabrics, can cause damage to the fibers and so reduce the lifespan of garments when washed too frequently.
Rather than flinging an item in the wash bin if it isn’t unclean but needs to be freshened up, try hanging it outside or in a steamy bathroom to breathe first.
We all have some pieces in our wardrobe that we wear only for special days in a year. For example, mom t shirts that are gifted on Mother’s Day is not something you wear every day. Such pieces of clothing should not be washed often, since they are far more like a memorable piece!
Low-Temperature Washing
When it’s time to wash your garments, do it at a lower temperature, to maintain the fabric clean and soft, and to prevent color fading, wash it at a moderate temperature with a gentle and natural washing detergent.
Washing and tumble drying account for 80% of the emissions created during the ‘in-use’ stage of a shirt’s life cycle over a year; cleaning at 30° or less helps to cut those emissions while also protecting your clothes. Items that come into direct touch with your skin, such as underwear, bedding, and towels, may need to be washed at a higher temperature.
Care Labels
Laundering different materials necessitate different procedures. Wool, for example, should only be washed when necessary, using a special wool detergent on a gentle cycle or hand wash. At the same time, delicate textiles like cashmere and silk, which are particularly prone to damage from harsh chemicals and heat, should be handled with care. Pay close attention to the label’s instructions, which will tell you the maximum suggested temperature for washing an item (rather than the recommended temperature) unless the label specifies dry cleaning only.
Eco-laundry Detergents
Standard detergents may contain fossil fuel-based ingredients that are harmful to the environment since they do not biodegrade. Using specialist laundry products, such as our eco-washes and a delicate hand wash, can also help to extend the life of your most valuable possessions. Thankfully, an increasing range of eco-laundry solutions is now available, even in many laundry pickup services, many of which are created from biodegradable, plant-derived components and are also refillable.
The appropriate approach to wash your clothes can make a significant difference in their lives. If you wash silk scarves or shirts in hot water, for example, you risk destroying their delicate texture. Using the correct water temperature and washing process is critical for preserving your items’ color, shape, and brightness.